Steam-trap.



PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907 J. E. L. OGDEN.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.17, 1906.

partition (Z.

JOHN EDWARD LElVIS OGDEN, OF LISOARD, ENGLAND.

STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'fatented rli'arcn 26, 1907.

Application filed November 17,1906. Serial No. 343,867.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN EDW'ARD Lnwrs OGDEN, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at Penshurst, Lincoln Drive,Liscard, in the county of Chester, England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Steam Traps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to steam-traps of the expansion type, my objectbeing to construct such appliances from a few simple andconveniently-arranged parts that shall be capable of working withreliability and efliciency with either high or low pressure steam.

Referring to the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, Figure 1 isa sectional view of a convenient form of steam-trap constructed inaccordance with this invention, while Fig. 2 is a similar view of amodification of the same trap.

The same reference-letters in the two views indicate the same or similarparts.

I provide, in the example shown at Fig. 1, an outer tube or casing, suchas a, which is screwed at one end into a casting orfitting containingadmission and exhaust ports, as b and 0, respectively. This casting orfitting is divided into two chambers by a diagonal The inlet oradmission port I) communicates with one of these chambers, as e, which Ishall call the admission-chamber, and the exhaust-port a communicateswith the other chamber, as f, which I shall call the discharge-chamb er.An exp ansiontube g, constructed of brass or some other metal having ahigh coefficient of expansion, is arranged within the outer tube a. Thisexpansion-tube g passes through the partition (I just mentioned, so asto communicate with the inlet-chamber e. The annular space between theouter tube and the expansion tube communicates with the dischargechamberf. The other end of the expansiontube is provided with a valve-seat h,which receives a valve i, adapted to control the outflow of fluid fromthe expansion-tube g.

The said valve is mounted on a. stem or spindle j, passing through thecap 76 of the valve-containing chamber Z, to which the outer tube a isattached. The annular space between the outer tube a and theexpansiontube 9 communicates with this valve-chamber. Aleverm isarranged, as illustrated, in combination with a spring a to exertpressure on the valve-stem j, and so force the valve toward its seat.The lever is, however,

also provided with a pin or adjustable stop 0 to limit the motion of thelever due to the action of the spring.

When the expansion-tube g contains steam, unless this steam is at a verylow pressure the expansion of the tube will be such that the valve-seatand the valve will be in contact with each other. The stem 7' will alsobe in contact with the lever m. W hen, however, the expansiontubecontains nothing but water, or a certain amount of water at a relativelylow temperature, the tube will be so much contracted as 'to withdraw theseat from the valve, the valve being kept off its seat by thefluid-pressure within the expansion-tube and the spring being unable toforce the .valve against its seat owing to the stop 0 provided on thelever. It follows that the water can escape past the valve-seat and flowdown to the discharge-chamberf. The valve employed is of the typedescribed in my prior patent specification forming part of theapplication filed January 5, 1905, Serial No. 239,786. Such valve has apop action which gives a greater opening than can be obtained by themere contraction of the expansion-tube g.

I may, if desired, provide the expansiontube with guiding fins ormembers to keep it in its proper position within the outer tube, but notto prevent relative axial movement between the two. These guiding-finsare preferably arranged toward the valve end of the expansion-tube. Inthe examples illustrated the upper end of the tube g is fitted with acollar or its equivalent, as p, which slides between guide-piecesprojecting from the interior of the valve-chamber Z, as shown.

I provide a rod, as g, within the expansiontube, so as to leave only anarrow annular space for fluid between the rod and the interior of theexpansion-tube. By thus reducing the capacity of the expansiontube Ireduce the amount of steam which is pocketed in it when water begins toenter the tube. This arrangement also allows a small quantity of waterto exert a large cooling effect on the expansion-tube. I may provide theinlet-chamber with a dirt-cock, through which dirt, which collects inthe inlet-chamber, can be blown out, if desired.

I prefer that my trap should be placed vertically with the valvechamberat the upper end. The trap may, however, be used in other positions, ifdesired. 1 may, if desired, as shown, extend the expansion-tube g almostright through the inlet-chamber. When the trap is employed in a verticalposition with the valve-chamber at the upper end, the expansion-tubewill then be fed with water from the bottom or sump-like part of theinlet-chamberthat is, with the coolest water. With this arrangement Imay, if desired, provide a small hole, as 1", in the extension of theexpansiontube and at the upper end of the inlet-chamber. This holereduces the amount of steam which will be pocketed in the expansion-tubeby the rise of water, and so insures a prompt opening of the valve whena discharge is necessary.

In order to compensate for alterations in the pressure of the steam andwater supplied to the trap, I provide a compensating tube, as s, whichis preferably arranged parallel to the outer tube a. The interior or thecompensating tube communicates at one end. with the inlet-chamber of thetrap and with no other part of the same. The tube is closed at the otherend-that is, at the end adjacent to the valvechamberand at this end thepin or stop 0, before described as being provided on the lever m, whichcontrols the action of the valve, is arranged to make contact with thecompensating tube. This compensating tube is full of steam during theaction of the trap. It is preferably formed of a metal, such as brass,which has a high coefficient of expansion. The consequence is that thetube alters in length according to the temperature of the steam whichgains access to the trap, and thus allows for the lever being pulled bythe spring to a greater extent in the direction of the valve whenlow-pressure steam is being used than when highpressure steam is beingemployed. The valve can therefore close, although the elongation of theexpansion-tube is not so great. The compensating tube is, however,preferably arranged only to compensate to a certain extent, so that witha very low pressure of steamsay a pressure of only a few pounds aboveatmosphere the valve will not close on its seat.

The compensating tube may be arranged on any side of the outer tubewhich may be considered most convenient in any particular case. It maybe made as long as is thought necessary, and the steam may be allowed tofill either the whole'of it or only a part of it. When the trap is to beused in a horizontal position, I may, if desired, partially close up theentrance to the expansion-tube from the 1 a considerable quantity willquickly rush in.

In the modification shown at Fig. 2 the compensating tube 8 is dispensedwith, and the valve-containing chamber is cast in one piece with theouter tube or casing a. A detachable screw-plug t is provided at thebottom of the sump-like part of the inlet-chamber to facilitate cleaningand to permit of the ready screwing in of the expansiontube 9.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In steam-traps of the expansion type, the combination with a waterdischarge valve and an expansion-tube effecting the opening and closingof the said valve, of a fitting provided with inlet and outlet chambersand having a sump-like or water-collecting chamber formed integrallywith the said inlet-chamber and. an extension from the saidexpansion-tube projecting within the said water-collecting chamber,substantially as described.

2. In steam-traps of the expansion type, the combination consisting of awaterdischarge valve, an expansion tube, a valveseating for the saidvalve secured integrally with the said. expansion-tube, a loaded leveracting to press the valve against its seating, a fitting provided withinlet and outlet chambers, and a sump-like or water-collecting chamberinto which the said expansiontube projects, substantially as described.

3. In steam-traps of the expansion type, the combination consisting of awater-discharge valve, an expansion-tube, a valveseating for the saidvalve secured integrally with the said expansion-tube, a loaded leveracting to press the valve against its seating, adjustable means limitingthe said action of the loaded lever, a fitting provided with inlet andoutlet chambers, and a sump-like or wa ter-collecting chamber into whichthe said expansion-tube projects, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I' aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EDWARD LEWIS. OGDEN.

lVitnesses:

VIVIAN ARTHUR HUGHEs, Ci-IARLEs CONRAD.

